The Anniversary Diary
Part One
Author's Note: This came to me as I was trying to work on my Tin Man fic (apparently I'm just not meant to write one), and Bradley was all to eager to get it down. Bradley would of course be my computer. Please, please, please read and review, even if the review is just to say you read it.
Disclaimer: I've never even seen a wildfire let alone owned one.
Kris stared up at the ceiling wondering how she managed to get herself into this situation in the first place. If she was honest with herself she would admit that she knew perfectly well how she had gotten in this situation. However she was rarely honest with herself. That may have been what landed her in this. She sighed, closing her eyes as she lay back on the mattress. She knew she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep, but she had some serious thinking to do, and she figured that she might as well do it while she was laying down comfortable, rather than with her back pressed awkwardly against the uncomfortable headboard.
Junior, her husband- it still felt unreal to be saying that, even to herself- finally out of his father's grasp had decided to go into business for himself. Kris had supported his decision whole-heartedly, and with her blessing, he headed his own company. It had been surprisingly easier than anticipated, much to both their excitement, as many of the employees at Davis Enterprises (his father's company) had been itching for an excuse to leave the manipulative man for quite some time. Once it became known that Junior was starting his own company, many of the employees jumped ship, to work for the son of the man they had come to despise. It was easy for them to see that Junior was nothing like his father as far as employee relations went, and was a much more open and honest man than his father. He had told them right up front before they even considered signing that he was starting his own business from the ground up, and as such had no cliental, no solid plan of action, and little-to-know capital. The workers still flocked to him, willing to go for a short time without pay. They may have been slightly disappointed, when after almost a year the clients were sparse and soon capital was a very real issue. Ken Davis Jr. promptly rewarded his employees with their back salary, whenever it was possible, with himself making practically the same amount as the people who worked for him, giving them raises, however minute, whenever they happened to pick up another small client. Of course, the driving force behind their new employer and was not lost on them- they knew it was the youngest Davis boy's new wife- a Kris Furillo- or Davis as the case were who kept pushing him to become a better husband, a better boss, a better man who kept himself on the same plane as his employees.
Kris had always adamantly protested to being called Mrs. Davis. Being reasonably well known herself- famous, even in the horse racing circuit- she wished to keep her last name. Her husband, although obviously annoyed at her lack of adaptation to their new life, never argued with her, and informed her of his support for his decision. However she still felt that twinge of annoyance at him every time he "mistakenly" introduced her as his wife- Kris Davis at charity functions, or failed to correct anyone who referred to her by his surname. Kris Furillo was nothing if not an independent woman who would rather be recognized for her own merits rather than her husbands'.
Unfortunately, Junior's company was sinking fast, so when Junior asked Kris to give up horse racing for a little while and leave Raintree, because they couldn't afford to keep up with the expenses, she- albeit privately grudgingly- conceded. He knew how much she loved it, and always said it was the hardest thing he'd ever had to ask of someone. So Kris took a temporary retirement, leaving Raintree full of tears and regret, and went to work with Junior every day, doing what she could to keep the company afloat- to support the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with- no matter the personal sacrifice.
They had made it to their first wedding anniversary with relative ease after her retirement, their life a blissful, loving, and perfect- a feat supposedly unheard of in present times with divorces outnumbering lasting marriages, but they weren't surprised that they had made it so easily. Everyone told them that if they could make it through that first year, they would make it the rest of their lives together. Kris and Junior only smiled at each other, their eyes locking, knowing there was never any doubt as to their ability to succeed.
By their second wedding anniversary Junior's company was world renowned, picking up some huge clients and starting revolutionary projects. Kris couldn't be more thrilled at watching her husband at work in his element, where he was passionate about what he did- his excitement infectious for the rest of the company and the patrons. Still she felt as if a piece of her had died when she was forced to retire. Granted, she understood her husband's reasons, and supported him whole-heartedly, but now that the company was so successful, she was itching to restart her career right where she left off.
That was why, on Kris and Junior's third wedding anniversary when Junior showed his wife her present she had been the happiest she had been in a year. Her present from him had been the promise of her own horse-racing company that she would head and of course- ride for. Junior told her that he had been planning this for quite some time, and just wanted to wait for the perfect moment. Kris had never loved her husband more in that moment.
By the fourth wedding anniversary of Kris and Junior, Kris had become one of the most famous jockeys of all time. The newspapers and magazines referred to them as "the power couple of our time". Her advances in the sport combined with her less-than-desirable beginnings and her husband's prosperity of course all led to her almost single handedly reviving the sport and bringing it back into the spotlight. Both their companies were thriving and the couples quickly became exceedingly wealthy, both were content with their lives- doing what they loved, and being with the one they loved.
Their fifth wedding anniversary was plagued by the death of Jean. The news had shattered Kris's world, when she received a call from Matt at three AM one morning saying his mom had just passed away. Matt informed her that the funeral would be in two days- if she wasn't too busy of course. Kris had burst into sobs, totally filled with guilt and remorse over neglecting the woman whom she had loved as a mother, in a way that didn't compare with what she felt for her biological mother. A combination of her sobs and the phone's ring had awoken Junior- and his heart clenched at the sight of his wife's despair. Between sobs, as she composed herself she informed him that she was packing and taking the first plane back to attend Jean's funeral. Junior only nodded, rubbing her back soothingly, filled with regret that he couldn't be there for his wife- for he had a huge meeting with Japan the next day. Kris only nodded and clung to him a while longer, before throwing some clothes into her suitcase, and having her husband take her to the airport.
By the sixth wedding anniversary Kris was thankful for her decision to merge her company with Raintree- then owned in full by Matt, for she was finally back riding for Raintree, which she now owned half of. She reconnected with Matt, as both were grieving over the woman who was a mother to them both, as they slowly built Raintree above and beyond its former glory, with earnings to threaten those of Junior's company. Kris and Junior rung in their anniversary with Junior closing a deal with the United Nations for a huge project to increase the environmentalist cause, and under Kris's riding, Raintree taking a win at the Kentucky Derby.
The seventh wedding anniversary of Kris and Junior found the spouses in a significantly less wonderful place. One of the accountants at Junior's company who had been with him since the beginning was discovered to have been embezzling earnings from the company left and right for years. Junior's company fell under the watchful eye of the government, and once again Kris and Junior found themselves trying to stay afloat. This time the tables had turned and Kris decided she wanted to ask Junior to shut the company down and join Raintree. They may have been out half their earnings, but they could always just move to a smaller house, and Raintree could support both of them with ease, if and when Junior wanted to start up another company…
Kris snapped out of her reverie at the sound of the man she loved rustling next to her in the covers, waking up and wrapping his arm around her waist. Kris swallowed hard and turned to face him, knowing that what she had to say was going to be one of the hardest things she'd ever have to do. However, they had been through a lot over the years, especially since the marriage, and she owed it to him and her, to try and find happiness, love, and comfort during these grueling times.
"Good morning, Kris Furillo" he said as he planted a sweet kiss full of love on her forehead. He stroked her hair as he used his other arm to prop himself up to see her better.
"Good morning" she said, with a smile- he was making this so much easier. "thank you for calling me Furillo and not Davis" she said, smiling up at him.
"You always said that you'd rather be called Kris Furillo" he said, confused as to why she was even mentioning it.
"But I didn't know you were listening" she conceded with a bashful smile.
"I always listen to everything you say, I love you" he said planting a chaste kiss on her lips.
"I love you too" she said, her eyes shining with tears. "I have some news".
"What is it, Sweetheart", he said getting slightly anxious.
"You're going to be a daddy". She said, biting her lip, worried for his response.
"What?" he said, not totally sure he was understanding her correctly.
"I'm pregnant" she said more bluntly.
"Oh my God" he said jumping out of bed and running to her side. "We're having a baby!" and with that he scooped her out of bed and into his arms.
"I love you Kris" he said, kissing the woman he loved.
"I love you too Matt" she said, kissing the man she loved back.
Matt Ritter and Kris Furillo stayed in bed, completely and utterly mind-blowingly fulfilled just being in their arms and talking of their plan for the future, until of course they had to get out of bed and ready for the homecoming of Kris's husband Junior Davis.
Author's Note: Okay guys please don't hate me, but I'm (obviously) a Kris/Matt fan :ducks rotten fruit being thrown:!! Sorry, but I wanted the element of surprise, and I also didn't want all you Krunior fans (which is almost everyone) neglecting this story because it was a Kris/Matt. There is plenty of Krunior for you guys!! So please review, even if you don't like the paring (and I'm sure you don't) you can still review saying you liked (or hated) my style of writing… please. :begs on hands and knees before the Krunior fans who make up the base of the Wildfire fandom: as for you Kris/Matt fans you need to show me some reviewing love too because there aren't nearly enough Kris/Matt stories here.
The second part will be from Matt's POV pretty much informing us of where Kris and Junior's marriage began to fall apart and how Matt picked up the pieces and a tentative third part dealing with Junior's POV about the news of Kris and Matt's affair and what happens with Kris and Matt's baby…